Caster bracket assembly

ABSTRACT

A caster bracket assembly to mount a caster onto the interior surface of a furniture base utilizing a one-piece caster bracket having an integral caster socket or a separate caster socket secured thereto. The caster bracket and socket are both formed of the same or similar materials, and the bracket has a pair of legs or flanges with means to fasten the bracket legs to the interior surface of the furniture piece and positioning flanges or tabs engaging the lower edges of the furniture piece.

United States Patent Ostrom 1 Feb. 8, 1972 [54] CASTER BRACKET ASSEMBLY[72] inventor: Martin E. Ostrom, Rockford, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Keystone Consolidated Industries, Inc.,

Peoria, 111.

[22] Filed: Dec. 22, 1969 21 Appl. 190.; 886,959

[51] Int. Cl ..B60b 33/00 [58] Field of Search ..248/188.8; 16/29, 30,31; 287/20 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,738,539 3/1956Schultz, Jr. ..16/29 Re 16133 8/1925 Smithfield.....

2,700,584 1/1955 Hobbs ..287/20 874,514 12/1907 Lindow 2287/20 2,738,5403/1956 Kramcsak,Jr ..16/29 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 787,91812/1957 Great Britain ..l ..16/29 Primary ExaminerBobby R. Gay AssistantExaminerDoris L. Troutman Att0rneyWilS0n & Geppert ABSTRACT A casterbracket assembly to mount a caster onto the interior surface of afurniture base utilizing a one-piece caster bracket having an integralcaster socket or a separate caster socket secured thereto. The casterbracket and socket are both fonned of the same or similar materials, andthe bracket has a pair of legs or flanges with means to fasten thebracket legs to the interior surface of the furniture piece andpositioning flanges or tabs engaging the lower edges of the furniturepiece.

8 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures mamas FEB 8m SHEET 1 BF 3 PATENTED FEB8:972

SHEET 2 IF 3 CASTER BRACKET ASSEMBLY The present invention relates tothe mounting of casters upon furniture for mobility, and moreparticularly to caster bracket assemblies to be secured to a furniturebase and receive the stem of a caster.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a casterbracket assembly having a mounting bracket and a caster socket securedthereto. The bracket includes a generally horizontal plate forming amounting for a caster socket and a pair of generally vertical legs orflanges adapted to be secured to the interior surface of a base for apiece of furniture and having positioning flanges abutting the loweredges of the furniture base.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a one-piececaster bracket where the caster socket receiving the stem of the casteris integral with or secured to the bracket to be attached to thefurniture piece.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of anall-metal caster bracket having a caster socket assembly secured theretoto form a one-piece arrangement where the caster stem is easily andreadily secured in the socket and the bracket secured to a furniturepiece.

The present invention also comprehends the provision of a one-pieceplastic caster bracket and socket assembly formed to receive the stem ofthe caster and be secured to a furniture piece.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity,efficiency, economy and ease of assembly and such further objects,advantages and capabilities as will late more fully appear and areinherently possessed thereby.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a caster bracket assembly with asuitable caster assembled thereto.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the caster bracket assembly showingits assembly to the base of a furniture piece.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the caster bracket assembly.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of casterbracket assembly.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the assembly of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a third embodiment of casterbracket assembly.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the bracket assembly of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a fourth embodiment of a casterbracket assembly.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the bracket of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the bracket of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of casterbracket.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the bracket of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of caster bracketassembly.

FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of the assembly of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the assembly of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of yet another embodiment of casterbracket assembly.

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of the bracket assembly of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a front elevational view of the caster bracket of FIG. 16.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings whereinare shown illustrative embodiments of the present invention, FIGS. 1-3disclose a caster bracket assembly 10 for a caster 11 having a stem 12to pivotally mount the caster onto a cabinet or piece of furniture. Theassembly includes a caster bracket 13 having a generally rectangularhorizontal plate 14 formed with upstanding or upturned flanges l5, 15 ontwo adjacent outer edges thereof, the flanges having inturned locatingends or tabs l6, 16. A pair of downwardly extending spaced mounting legsl7, 17 are formed integral with the plate 14 and at right angles to eachother. Each leg has two or more openings 18 for receiving suitablescrews or fastening means and terminates in an outwardly projectingpositioning flange 19.

The plate 14 is provided with a pair of elongated embossments ordepressions 21, 21 one of which extends into each leg 17 to strengthenthe bracket under relatively heavy loading. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3,the legs 17, 17 abut against the interior surface 23 of a furniture base22 with the positioning tabs or flanges 19, 19 abutting the lower edge24 of the base and screws 25 extend through the openings 18 into thefurniture base 22. Also, as seen in FIG. 3, the plate 14 has a cutout 26at the corner 27 of the furniture base 22. Adjacent the corner 28opposite the cutout 26 in an annular flange 29 defining an opening toreceive an upstanding caster socket 31 secured to the plate 14.

The caster socket 31 includes a top bearing socket 32 with a socket tube33 secured therein by a suitable clinching operation, and the socket 32is frictionally held in the openings defined by the flange 29 by theclinching operation. The socket tube 33 is split at the upper end toprovide converging portions 34 as is well known in the art to receiveand grip the stem 12 of the caster 11, with an enlarged head 35 on thestem 12 being snapped into and retained in the socket tube 33. Thus, thecaster 11 mounted in the bracket assembly 10 can be easily andaccurately positioned on a furniture base 22 by the locating ends l6, 16the depending legs 17, 17 and the positioning flanges 19, 19.

FIGS. 4 and 5 disclose a second embodiment of caster bracket assembly 10having a horizontal plate 40 formed of two arms 36, 36 intersecting atthe caster 11", each arm provided with a downturned or depending narrowflange 37 along the outer edge, a depending flange 38 at the outer end,and a triangular depending pan 39 integral with the inner edge. Adepending mounting leg 41 is formed integral with and bent at rightangles to the triangular part 39 to parallel and abut the flange 38. Theleg 41 terminates at its lower end in an outward positioning flange 42and is provided with openings 43 to receive mounting screws or fasteningmeans 44. The flange 38 is also provided with an opening 45 aligned withthe upper opening 43 on the leg 41 to receive an upper screw 44.

A caster socket 46 is received in an opening 47 at the intersection ofthe arms 36, 36 and includes a socket 48 and an internal socket tube 49,both the socket and socket tube provided with an annular bulge 51 tojoin the two parts and position the aster socket on the plate 40. Thelower ends of the socket 48 and the socket tube 49 depend through theopening 47 and are clinched outwardly at 52 to secure the socket ontothe bracket 10; the socket tube receiving and retaining the caster stem12 therein.

FIGS. 6 and 7 disclose a third embodiment of caster bracket assembly 10having a horizontal plate 53 formed of intersecting arms 54, 54 at rightangles; each arm 54 provided with an upturned flange 55 at the outeredge of the plate 53. At the outer ends of the arms 54, 54 are dependingmounting legs 56, 56 terminating in intumed locating flanges 57, 57.Each leg 56 has two or more openings 58 to receive screws 59 to securethe bracket 10" onto the interior surface 61 of a furniture base withthe flanges 57, 57 abutting the lower edges 62 of the base.

A pair of generally parallel elongated embossments 63, 63 extend intoboth of the arms 54 and legs 56 to strengthen the bracket. A castersocket 64 is secured in the plate 53 in the same manner and has the samestructure as the caster socket shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

In FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 is shown a fourth embodiment of caster bracketassembly 10 which differs from the first three embodiments in providinga bracket 65 that is secured on the interior surface 66 of only one wallof a furniture base rather than being secured onto a pair ofintersecting walls. The bracket 65 has a generally U-shape with a base67 having an opening receiving the caster socket 68 and a pair of spacedparallel walls 69, 69 extending upwardly at right angles to the base 67.Each wall 69 is provided with a mounting flange 71 at right anglesthereto and having openings 72 to receive securing screws 73 andterminating at their lower ends in horizontal locating flanges 74.

The caster socket 68 is constructed and retained in the base 67 in thesame manner as the socket of FIGS. 4 and 5, and receives the stem 12 ofa suitable caster. The bracket 68 is positioned on the interior surface66 of a wall of the furniture base with the locating flanges 74, 74abutting the lower edge 75 of the wall 76, and the bracket is thussecured by the screws 73.

FIGS. 11 and 12 disclose another embodiment of caster bracket assemblywhich is a one-piece assembly formed of A pair of vertical sidewalls 84,84 intersect at the rounded comer 79 and each has an upper horizontaledge 85 and a curved lower edge 86. A vertical end wall 87 is formed atthe outer end of each arm 78 perpendicular to and intersecting both thearms 78 and the adjacent sidewall 84. The curved edge 86 of eachsidewall extends from the corner 79 adjacent the horizontal plate 77 toadjacent the lower end of the end wall 87. Each wall 87 includes a pairof openings 88 to receive securing screws 89 and terminates in alocating tab or flange 91.

The assembly is also provided with a pair of vertical strengthening webs92, 92 which extend from an edge of the end wall 87 spaced from thesidewall 84 to and intersecting the socket 81; the web 92 and sidewall84 converging from the wall 87 toward the socket 81. A conventionalcaster having a caster stem provided with a resilient split ringadjacent the upper end. of the stem is mounted in the bracket 10 by thefrictional retention of the caster stem within the housing 82 of thecaster socket 81. This bracket assembly is mounted in the comer of afurniture base 93 in the same manner as the bracket of FIGS. 1, 4 or 6.

FIGS. 1315 disclose a further embodiment of caster bracket assembly 10similar to the assembly 10 of FIGS. 810, except for the positioningflange. This assembly 10 includes a bracket having a horizontal plate 94with a generally central opening 95 to receive a caster socket 96identical to that shown in FIGS. 8-10. A pair of parallel sides 97, 97extend upward at right angles to the plate 94; the sides terminating inmounting flanges 98, 98 extending outwardly from and at right anglesthereto. The flanges each includes openings 99 to receive screws 101securing the bracket to the interior surface 102 of a furniture basewall 103. The plate 94 extends beyond the vertical plane of the flanges98, 98 to form a positioning flange 104 engaging the lower edge 105 ofthe'wall 103. The socket 96 is secured in the plate 94 in the samemanner as shown in FIGS. 8-10.

FIGS. 16-18 disclose another embodiment of a caster bracket assembly 10provided with a caster socket housing 106, a pair of downwardly angledand diverging arms 107, 107 and a pair of outwardly bent mountingflanges 108, 108 formed at acute angles to the arms 107, 107 as seen inFIG. 17. Each flange 108 has a pair of openings 109 to receive securingscrews 111 and terminates in a lower outwardly bent locating tab orflange 112. The upper edge 1 13 and lower edge 114 of each arm 107 alsodiverges or inclines from the socket housing 106.

The socket housing 106 includes a rounded outer wall 115 with spacedsections 116, 116 being bent inwardly to form the inner semicircularhousing wall sections opposite cutouts 117, 117 in the wall 115. A topwall 118 extends across the arms 107, 107 to close the upper end of thesocket housing 106, and a spaced parallel bridging wall 119 extendsacross the arms 107, 107 to aid in defining the lower end of the housing106. The housing 106 receives and frictionally retains'a suitable castersocket 121 that, in turn, will receive the stern of a caster. Theconfiguration of the arms 107, 107 when mounted on the interior surfacesof intersecting furniture base walls at the lower edge will position thecaster so as to conceal all but the lower portion of the caster wheelfrom view from the exterior of the furniture base.

The caster bracket assemblies provide a sufficiently strong structure inview of the various legs and flanges and the embossments thereon toeasily support a substantial weight of a furniture base for a woodcabinet of a floor'model television of small sofas, chairs or othercabinets. The assembly and caster are easily located on the interiorsidewall or corner of the cabinet or other piece and can be quicklysecured thereto without changes in alignment. Also, the assemblies eachprovides a substantial concealment of the caster in the furniture basewith the lower edge of the cabinet or other piece positioned relativelyclose to the floor. In all of these assemblies, the caster stem ispositioned where it can swivel unhindered in all directions.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:

1. A caster bracket assembly adapted to be mounted on the interiorsurface of a base of a cabinet or like structure where the base has apair of upright walls intersecting at right angles to each other formingan internal corner space, comprising a caster socket adapted to receivethe stem of a caster, and a caster bracket operatively connected to saidcaster socket and including a horizontal plate carrying said castersocket, a pair of spaced depending mounting flanges extending at rightangles to the plate to engage the intersecting interior surfaces of theupright cabinet walls and having openings therein receiving suitablefastening means securing the flanges to the cabinet base, and a locatingtab at the lower end of each flange abutting the lower edge of anupright wall, said plate being generally rectangular with the corneradjacent the cabinet internal comer being cut away.

2. A caster bracket assembly as set forth in claim 1, including at leastone elongated embossment formed in said plate and intersecting eachdepending flange, said plate having an opening adjacent the corneropposite the cabinet internal comer defined by an upstanding annularflange, said caster socket being anchored in said opening.

3. A caster bracket assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which saidplate is formed of two arms intersecting at right angles in a cornerreceiving said caster socket, and said mounting flanges are located atthe outer ends of said arms, each flange terminating in a locating tab.

4. A caster bracket assembly as se forth inclaim 3, in which each armterminates at its outer end in a depending flange, a depending wallformed on the inner edges of said arms and terminating in said mountingflanges perpendicular to said walls and said arms, said mounting flangesbeing parallel to said depending flanges.

5. A caster bracket assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein both saidmounting flanges and said depending flanges have aligned openingsreceiving suitable securing means.

6. A caster bracket assembly as set forth in claim 3, in which saidmounting flanges are integral with and depend from the ends of saidarms, each arm and flange having a pair of parallel elongatedstrengthening embossments extending into the arm and flange from theintersection thereof.

7. A caster bracket assembly as set forth in claim I, in which saidcaster bracket and said caster socket are integral and formed of asuitable plastic material, and said bracket also includes a pair ofsidewalls at right angles to and extending above and below said plate,said walls intersecting and merging into said caster socket, each wallalso intersecting a depending mounting flange.

8. A caster bracket assembly as set forth in claim 7, in which saidmounting flange and said sidewalls extend above said plate to the heightof said caster socket, and a pair of vertical webs formed with each webextending from an edge of said mounting flange above the plate to saidcaster socket and converging with the adjacent sidewall, the lower edgeof each sidewall curving from a point adjacent said plate and saidcaster socket to a point adjacent the locating tab.

1. A caster bracket assembly adapted to be mounted on the interiorsurface of a base of a cabinet or like structure where the base has apair of upright walls intersecting at right angles to each other formingan internal corner space, comprising a caster socket adapted to receivethe stem of a caster, and a caster bracket operatively connected to saidcaster socket and including a horizontal plate carrying said castersocket, a pair of spaced depending mounting flanges extending at rightangles to the plate to engage the intersecting interior surfaces of theupright cabinet walls and having openings therein receiving suitablefastening means securing the flanges to the cabinet base, and a locatingtab at the lower end of each flange abutting the lower edge of anupright wall, said plate being generally rectangular with the corneradjacent the cabinet internal corner being cut away.
 2. A caster bracketassembly as set forth in claim 1, including at least one elongatedembossment formed in said plate and intersecting each depending flange,said plate having an opening adjacent the corner opposite the cabinetinternal corner defined by an upstanding annular flange, said castersocket being anchored in said opening.
 3. A caster bracket assembly asset forth in claim 1, in which said plate is formed of two armsintersecting at right angles in a corner receiving said caster socket,and said mounting flanges are located at the outer ends of said arms,each flange terminating in a locating tab.
 4. A caster bracket assemblyas set forth in claim 3, in which each arm terminates at its outer endin a depending flange, a depending wall formed on the inner edges ofsaid arms and terminating in said mounting flanges perpendicular to saidwalls and said arms, said mounting flanges being parallel to saiddepending flanges.
 5. A caster bracket assembly as set forth in claim 4,wherein both said mounting flanges and said depending flanges havealigned openings receiving suitable securing means.
 6. A caster bracketassembly as set forth in claim 3, in which said mounting flanges areintegral with and depend from the ends of said arms, each arm and flangehaving a pair of parallel elongated strengthening embossments extendinginto the arm and flange from the intersection thereof.
 7. A casterbracket assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which said caster bracketand said caster socket are integral and formed of a suitable plasticmaterial, and said bracket also includes a pair of sidewalls at rightangles to and extending above and below said plate, said wallsintersecting and merging into said caster socket, each wall alsointersecting a depending mounting flange.
 8. A caster bracket assemblyas set forth in claim 7, in which said mounting flange and saidsidewalls extend above said plate to the height of said caster socket,and a pair of vertical webs formed with each web extending from an edgeof said mounting flange above the plate to said caster socket andconverging with the adjacent sidewall, the lower edge of each sidewallcurving from a point adjacent said plate and said caster socket to apoint adjacent the locating tab.